Tape winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tape winding apparatus comprises a tape supply and a tapewinding mandrel receiving tape from the supply and winding the tape in form of a coil. A tape guide channel is arranged upstream of the mandrel and is elongated in the direction of approach of the tape. The tape guide channel confines the tape against movement in lateral direction to assure that the radial faces of a coil wound from the tape will be entirely planar. A friction pad or the like engages one major surface of the advancing tape within the confines of the channel. An arrangement is also disclosed for utilizing this apparatus for automated operation.

trite States Patent llllelmnt llllcrrmnnrr Cologne, @rnunslseld, Germany 8411,7711

July 15, 1969 Sept. 7, 119711 Metallorryd Gmblrll lltoeln-lllraunsield, Germany [32] Priority Aug. 117, 119611 [33] Germany [72] Inventor [21 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [731 Assignee [54} 'liAlPlE WllNlDllNG APPARATUS 28 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

242/673, 242/752, 242/76 [51] lint. C1 136511 119/20 [50] [Field 01 Search 242/55, 56,

[56] References .Citenl UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,620,141 12/1952 Langbo 242/56 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant ExaminerWerner l-l. Schroeder Art0rney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A tape winding apparatus comprises a tape supply and a tape'winding mandrel receiving tape from the supply and winding the tape in form of a coil. A tape guide channel is arranged upstream of the mandrel and is elongated in the direction of approach of the tape. The tape guide channel confines the tape against movement in lateral direction to assure that the radial faces of a coil wound from the tape will be entirely planar. A friction pad or the like engages one major surface of the advancing tape within the confines of the channel. An arrangement is also disclosed for utilizing this apparatus for automated operation.

PATENTED SEP 7 Ian SHEET 1. HF fl INVENTOR PATENTED SEP "7197] SHEET ll HF TAPE WINDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tape-winding apparatus in general, and more particularly to an apparatus for winding elongated tapes into coils. Still more particularly the invention relates to an apparatus for winding metal tapes into coils.

The use of apparatus for winding tapes, such as metal tapes-for instance tapes consisting of surface treated aluminum-into coils are already known. Some of these are quite simple and others are rather complicated. All of them, however, suffer fromvarious disadvantages. A particular disadvantage of these known constructions is to be seen in the fact that it is impossible with them to wind the tapes into coils having completely planar radial side faces. In other words, the lateral edges of the different tape convolutions on the finished coil are not all located in a common plane. Not only is this aesthetically displeasing but it brings with it decided disadvantages in the subsequent use of such coils. Evidently, the edge portions of convolutions which project outwardly from the edge portions of other convolutions can be readily bent, torn or damaged during handling, transportation, storage or the like, and tape sections so mutilated are not suitable for further use, aside from the fact that such damage greatly complicates subsequent unwinding of the tape from the coil.

A further disadvantage of the known tape-winding devices is the fact that they are not suitable for automated operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tape-winding apparatus wherein the lateral edges of all tape convolutions of a tape wound into the shape of a coil are located in a common plane.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a tape-winding apparatus which is suitable for automated production.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a tape-winding apparatus which, briefly stated, comprises tape supply means which supplies tape to be wound in form of a coil. Tape-winding means is spaced from the tape supply means and is operative for receiving from the latter tape which advances in a predetermined path, and for winding such tape to thereby form a coil thereof. Tape guide means is located upstream of the tape-winding means and comprises wall means defining an elongated guide channel surrounding a portion of the predetermined path and defining the tape against movement laterally of this path. Finally, friction-brake means comprises an engaging portion which extends into the guide channel and which slidably frictionally engages a major surface of the tape as the same advances through the guide channel so as to exert a frictional braking action on the tape.

Advantageously the tape is caused to form a free-hanging loop upstream of the tape guide means. The provision of the tape guide means prevents any lateral movement of the tape immediately upstream of the winding mandrel onto which the tape is wound, and the friction-brake means provides for precisely controllable braking of thetape. The mandrel and the drive motor for the mandrel are, in accordance with the present invention, jointly mounted on a common support, such as a machine frame, together with the tape guide means, thereby assuring that any vibrations which might develop, for instance from operation of the drive motor, are equally transmitted to the tape guide means and to the winding mandrel so that the two will perform any resulting movements in unison, that is that they will not move relative to one another. The provision of the loop, on the other hand, serves to isolate the tape advancing through the tape guide means from any vibrations or the like which might occur as a result of operation of the tape supply means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 5 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line V-V of FIG. 3',

FIG. 6 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line VI VI of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectioned detail view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3-6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An apparatus embodying the basic concept of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. It comprises a base 10 carrying a machine frame 11 on which in turn there is mounted a motor-transmission unit 12 which is of known construction and therefore not illustrated in detail. In conventional manner the unit 12 has an output shaft on which there is mounted a flywheel 13 and a winding mandrel 14 the longitudinal axis of which latter extends at least substantially horizontally.

As clearly visible in FIG. 1, the frame 11 further carries two guide rods 19 which extend normal to the plane of FIG. 1. The guide rods 19 are mounted in and secured to the frame 11 by the arms 19a. A block member 20 is. mounted on the guide rods 19 for movement in direction normal to the plane of FIG.

Reference numeral 16 identifies three handwheels provided on the frame 11, these handwheels 16 being operatively connected with the block 20 via drive trains 18. More specifically, one of the handwheels 16 is connected via its associated drive train 18 and the diagrammatically illustrated bevel gears 17 with a threaded rod 17a extending in parallelism with the guide rods 19 and located intermediate the same. An inter' nally threaded sleeve (not shown) is mounted in or on the block member 20 and its internal threads mesh with the external threads of the threaded rod 17a. Accordingly, when the respective handwheel 16 is turned, the threaded rod 17a is similarly turned with the result that. the block member 20 moves in direction normal to the plane of FIG. 1.

Additional guide rods 15 are mounted in the block member 20 for movement relative to the same in the direction of the doubleheaded arrow 21, that is for vertical movement. Such vertical movement is accomplished by rotation of another one of the handwheels 16 which is linked in suitable manner well known to those skilled in the art (and. not illustrated in detail) with the guide rods 15.

A plate 22 is connected to the upper ends of the guide rods 15 as shown in FIG. 1, and a support plate 23 is coupled with further guide rods 231 which are mounted in the plate 22 in such a manner as to be movable in direction of the doubleheaded arrow 24, that is in horizontal direction. The third of the handwheels 16 is operatively associated via its drive train 18 and the diagrammatically (dot-dash-dot lines) illustrated transmission is connected with the guide rods 231 and effects movement of the same in the direction of the double-headed arrow 24. It is thus evident that the support plate 23 can, by rotation of the three handwheels 16, be adjusted in three mutually normal directions, that is in direction normal to the plane of FIG. 1, as well as vertically and horizontally.

As FIG. 2 shows most clearly, guide channel means for a tape to be wound into the form of a coil is mounted on the support plate 23. This tape guide means comprises two wall portions transversely spaced from one another and extending at least in substantial parallelism with one another on the upper surface of the support plate 23. These wall portions or elements are identified with reference numeral 26 and each comprise an upper strip-shaped member 27 and a lower stripshaped member 28. Advantageously, but not necessarily, the upper member 27 consists of metal and the lower member 28 consists of polytetrafluorethylene or a material having analogous characteristics with respect to coefficient of friction, abrasion resistance, hardness and the like. In the illustrated embodiment the inner edges of the members 28 are bevelled in outward direction so that the cross-sectional configuration of the resulting tape guide channel 30 defined between the members 28 is substantially trapezoidal. Screws 29 or other fastening means are used to connect the elements 26 to the support plate 23, preferably in such a manner that at least one of the elements 26 can be adjusted in direction towards and away from the other element 26 so as to vary the width of the tape guide channel 30 in order to accommodate the same to the use of tapes having different widths. The width of the tape guide channel 30 is so selected that the tape 40 ad vancing therethrough has no lateral play transversely of its direction of advancement, that is transversely of the path in which it advances, or has only negligible play. Advantageously the upper surface of the support plate 23, which constitutes the bottom face of the tape guide channel 30 over which the tape-40 slides, and also the upper surface of the plate 22 as well as the inwardly directed bevelled edge faces of the members 28 are coated with polytetrafluorethylene or an analogous material as discussed above. A friction-brake arrangement is provided for exerting a controlled amount of frictional braking force upon the tape 40 as it advances through the guide channel 30. For this purpose there are provided uprights 31 which are connected laterally to the support plate 23 (compare FIG. 2) and which extend upwardly therefrom. The upper ends of the uprights 31 have mounted thereon a shaft 35 which is turnable about its longitudinal axis. Secured to the shaft 35 and projecting upwardly therefrom is an arm 32 whose free end carries a rod 33 on which a weight 34 is mounted for sliding movement in longitudinal direction. The diagrammatically illustrated setting screw associated with the weight 34 enables the latter to be secured against sliding movement relative to the rod 33 at any selected position of the latter.

A further rod or arm 36 is provided on the shaft 35 extending approximately in parallel with the rod 33 and having secured at its free end a member 37 which extends from above through the upper open side into the guide channel 30. At its underside the member 37 carries an engaging portion 38 which frictionally engages the upper major surface of the tape 40. The engaging portion 38 may consist of or have a free surface consisting of felt, polytetrafluorethylene or an analogous material. Depending upon the extent to which the weight 34 is moved away from the arm 32 and towards the free end of the rod 33, it will exert a lesser or greater weight upon the frictionbrake means consisting of the member 37 and the portion 38, so that the latter is correspondingly pressed with lesser or greater friction against the upper major surface of the tape 40, thereby braking the tape in the tape guide channel 30.

As evident from FIG. 1, a further upright 43 is provided on the base and carries in the region of its upper free end a shaft 45 on which there is mounted a tape supply roll 44. The tape 40 advances from the roll 44 in a predetermined path to the tape guide channel 30, as clearly evident from FIG. 1. In accordance with the present invention the arrangement is such as to assure that the tape 40 will always form a free-hanging loop 42 intermediate the roll 44 and the tape guide channel 30. This is to assure that any vibrations or other move ments originating in the tape supply means are isolated from and will not be transmitted to the portions of the tape advancing through the tape guide channel 30. The direction of advancement of the tape 40 is identified with reference numeral 125.

In accordance with the present invention I may provide an arrangement for assuring that the loop 42 is permanently maintained. For this purpose a further upright 46 may be provided on the base 10 and may carry two light sensors 47 and 48 which latter may be so mounted that they can be adjusted longitudinally of the upright 46, that is that their height can be varied, as well as their distance from one another. The supply roll 44 can be driven in rotation in a sense unwinding tape 40 therefrom by a suitable drive, as well as being brakes, with reference numeral 41 diagrammatically indicating the combined drive and brake arrangement for the supply roll 44. Electrical conductors 49 connect the sensors 47 and 48 with the device 41, the arrangement being such-and this is well known to those skilled in the art-that a signal is generated by the upper sensor 47 if the loop 42 becomes too short, the thusgenerated signal serving to cause the device 41 to be activated or to increase the speed of rotation of the supply coil 44, whereas the lower sensor 48 is activated and generates a signal if the loop 42 becomes too long, this latter signal serving to effect retardation in the rotation of the supply roll 44.

As described herebefore and illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus serves to wind a single coil of tape. It need hardly be emphasized, however, that by duplicating the number of tape supply rolls 44, the number of winding mandrels 14, and the number of tape guide channels 30and the various associated components-any desired number of tape coils can be wound simultaneously.

To operate the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 the elements 26 are adjusted with respect to one another so as to obtain a tape guide channel 30 of a width requisite for preventing lateral movement of the tape 40 which is to pass therethrough. Thereafter, the leading portion of the tape 40 is passed below the contact portion 38 of the friction-brake and is connected to the winding mandrel 14 or to a bobbin or reel mounted on the mandrel 14 for rotation therewith. Now the three handwheels 16 are turned until the tape guide channel 30 is exactly aligned with that part of the mandrel l4or the reel provided on the mandrel 14-to which the leading end of the tape 40 is secured. Now the drive 12 is energized and winding begins. The provision of the tape guide channel 30 assures that there is no lateralmovement of the tape 40 immediately upstream of the winding mandrel 14, so that the coil which is wound on the latter will have completely smooth end faces, that is the edges of the individual convolutions of tape on the coil will be located in a common plane at each opposite end of the coil. If the diameter of the coil is relatively large, then gradual readjustments in the positioning of the tape guide channel 30 may be made by turning the handwheels 16 as the diameter of the coil grows, in order to maintain the distance between the outlet of the tape guide channel 30 and the circumference of the coil as small as possible. It goes without saying that the handwheel 16 which effects movement of the block member 20 in direction normal to the plane of FIG. 1 will not be turned during such operation. It also goes without saying that the friction brake 37, 38, and its associated weight 34, have been shown by way of example only, and that other possibilities exist and will suggest themselves readily to those skilled in the art. Thus, the weight 34 could be replaced with an adjustable spring or an adjustable spring arrangement.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the apparatus according to the present invention in its basic principle. Such apparatus is admirably suited to automated production of tape coils with mass-production methods. The apparatus shown in FIGS. 3- 7 is exemplary of such automated production, and incorporates the principles of the apparatus discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 shows that this apparatus comprises a base 50 carrying a machine frame 51 in which a revolving table 52 is mounted for turning movement about its axis of rotation 53. A pinion 54 is connected to the free end of the axis 53 (compare FIG. 5) and cams with a rack 55 which is secured to a cylinder and piston arrangement 56 mounted on the machine frame. A coaster arrangement is associated with the pinion 54 (not shown but of conventional type) and assures that reciprocation of the piston of the cylinder and piston arrangement 56, and nsequent advancement of the rack 55, effects rotation of the rotary plate 52 only in direction of the arrow 57 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. i

As most clearly evident from FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotary plate 52 carries three winding mandrels 58 which are equiangularly spaced from one another. FIG. 7 shows details of the construction of the winding mandrels 58. It will be seen that each of them is composed of a hollow tubular member 60 provided adjacent one end with an outer circumferentially extending shoulder 61 which is located immediately adjacent a bore through which the end portion of the respective tubular member 60 extends. It is clear from FIG. 7 that the tubular member is rotatable with respect to the rotary plate 52. FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the end portion 62 extending to the other side of the rotary plate 52 carries a friction wheel 66.

As shown in FIG. 7, the tubular member 60 is provided with a plurality of radial bores in which there are located spreading pins 63 which are secured to the inner surfaces of three elongated transversely arcuately curved contact members 59 (compare also FIG. 6). A cam rod 64 is located in the interior of the tubular member 60 andmovable therein in opposite axial directions. In the region of the bores in which the spreading pins 63 are located, the cam rod 64 is provided with conically tapering cam faces 65 which are so constructed that, when the cam rod 64 is in the position shown in FIG. 7, they deflect the spreading pins 63 radially outwardly with the result that the contacts members 59 are also spread radially outwardly. Thus, if a reel or bobbin surrounds the respective winding mandrel 58, the contact members 59 will be spread into tight frictional engagement with the inner surface in the hub of the respective reel or bobbin, thus connecting the same tightly to the respective mandrel 58. If the cam rod 64 is moved towards the left in FIG. 7, the pins 63 can be moved inwardly and can be withdrawn into the bores, permitting the contact members 59 to move inwardly into contact with the outer surface of the tubular members 60, thereby enabling withdrawal of the reel or bobbin from the respective winding mandrel 58. It is advantageous to provide spring-biased arrangements (not shown) to deflect the contact members 59 inwardly into contact with the outer surface of the tubular member 60.

As also shown in FIG. 7, a further pin 81 is slidably received in a radial bore 80 which is provided in the shoulder 61. A substantially U-shaped bracket is secured on the rotary plate 52 proximal to each of the winding mandrels 58, and this bracket 75 receives and guides a pin 76 with reference radially of the respective winding mandrel 58. A helical spring 77 surrounds the pin 76 intermediate the arms of the Ushaped bracket 75, having one end abutting against one of the arms of the bracket and the other end abutting against a projection 78 or the like provided on the pin 76, whereby the latter is urged radially inwardly towards the winding mandrel 58. When the inner free end of the pin 76 registers with the bore 80 in the shoulder 61, this inner free end can enter into the bore 80, thereby arresting the winding mandrel 58 against rotation with respect to the rotary plate 52. g

In a certain position of the rotary plate 52, still to be described, a rod 82 can enter through the hollow end portion 62 of the tubular member 60 and will, upon contact of its bevelled front end with the pin 81, urge the same radially outwardly in the bore 80. This, in turn, results in radially outward displacement of the pin 76 by the pin 81, so that the free end portion of the pin 76 is urged out of the bore 80 with the result that now the winding mandrel 58 can rotate relative to the rotary plate 52. It will be appreciated that a conventional counter for counting the number of rotations of the winding mandrel 58can be operatively associated with the pin 76, so as to begin counting the same as the free end of the pin 76 is urged out of the bore 80 and rotation of the mandrel 58 can begin. In this manner the number of convolutions of tape placed onto the winding mandrel 58, or onto a bobbin or reel carried thereby, can be conveniently determined.

A cylinder and piston arrangement 68 is arranged on the frame 51, the piston rod being connected to the'frame 51 and the cylinder to a member 69 which is vertically adjustably mounted in the frame 51 via guide rods 71. Coil springs surround the guide rods 71 and tend to urge the member 69 in upward direction as seen in FIG. 6. By activating the cylinder and piston arrangement 68 the member 69 can be moved downwardly against the biassing force of the springs 72, so that it is vertically movable in the direction of the double' headed arrow 67. A motor-transmission arrangement 70 is connected to the member 69 and has a laterally projecting output shaft 73 carrying a friction wheel 74.

It is evident from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the rotary plate 52 is to turn in the direction of the arrow 57. Such turning movement takes place stepwise so that each of the winding mandrels 58 is serially advanced to a first operating station A, thereupon to a second operating station B and finally to a third operation station C. In a manner still to be described the winding mandrels 58 are provided, when located at the operating station A, with a device for securing the leading ends of the tape 40, whereupon they are advanced to the operating station B where the tape is severed as shown in FIG. 3 and the winding of the tape into a coil is then carried out. Finally, the next stepwise rota tion of the rotary plate 52 carries the completed coil to the operating station C where it is removed from its winding mandrel 58 which, upon the next advancement of the rotary plate 52 in direction of the arrow 57, again moves to the operating station A.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the frame 51 with the member 69, the motor 70 and the friction wheel 74 are so arranged that the friction wheel 74 is in motion-transmitting contact with the friction wheel 66 with that winding mandrel 58 which is located at the station B. This takes place when the cylinder and piston arrangement 68 is actuated. The cylinder and piston arrangement 83, on the other hand, is so arranged that the rod 82 enters into the hollow end of the end portion 62 of the respective tubular member 60 of that winding mandrel 58 which is located at the station B, thereby moving the free end of the pin 76 out of the bore 80 and freeing the winding mandrel 58 for rotation with respect to the rotary plate 52. This means that the cylinder and piston arrangements 68 and 83 are jointly controlled.

An additional cylinder and piston arrangement is mounted on the frame 51 at a location constituting an axial cxtension of the operating station C. A pin 84 is connected to the piston rod of this arrangement 85 and enters into the hollow end of the end portion 62 of that mandrel which is located at the operating station C, being moved towards the left in FIGS. 6 and 7 to such an extent that it shifts the cam rod 64 from the position shown in FIG. 7 towards the left, thereby permitting the contact members 59 to move into engagement with the outer surface of the associated tubular member 60. Thus, the coil, bobbin or the like which is carried by the respective winding mandrel 58, and onto which the completed coil I20 (compare FIG. 3) is wound, can be withdrawn from the winding mandrel 58. A further cylinder and piston arrangement 87 connected to a member 88 which is secured on a frame portion 71, and carries on its piston rod a pin 86 which, when the rotary plate 52 is standing still, is moved towards the right as seen in FIG. 6 and advances the cam rod 64 in FIGS. 6 and 7 towards the right, that is the cam rod of that winding mandrel 58 which is located at the operating station B. This spreads the members 59 into contact with a reel or bobbin placed onto the winding mandrel 58 and holds the reel or bobbin in position for rotation with the winding mandrel 58 which is located at the operating station B.

It is necessary to point out at this time that the device for securing the leading ends of the tape 40 to the respective winding mandrel 58, which has been mentioned earlier, consists in the illustrated embodiment of a channel-shaped rod 89 of approximately U-shaped cross section, being shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, which is coated with a suitable adhesive on its outer side and which is pushed onto the leading free edge of one of the contact members 59 of that winding mandrel 58 which is respectively located at the operating station A. For this purpose there is provided a magazine 90 for the rods 89 at a location constituting an axial extension of the winding rod 58 which respectively is located at the operating station A, and this magazine 90 is provided with a nonillustrated drive and serves to push one of the rods 89 onto the leading free edge of one of the members 59 in the manner shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4. The length of the rods 89 corresponds approximately to the length of the members 59.

A cutting device generally identified with reference numeral 91 is provided and becomes operative with respect winding mandrels 58 located at the operating station B. This cutting device comprises a cylinder and piston arrangement 102 horizontally mounted in the machine frame, having a transverse rod 100 secured to the piston rod 101 of the arrangement 102. At the opposite ends of the transverse rod 100 there are provided guide rods 98 extending in parallelism with the arrangement 102 and which are slidably guided in guides 99 secured to the machine frame. Arms 94 are provided at the opposite ends of the guide rods 98 and on the one hand carry a horizontally arranged cylinder and piston arrangement 97 and on the other hand guide sleeves for guide rods 93 which extend in parallelism with the arrangement 97. A headplate 95 is connected to the guide rods 93 and is further secured to the piston rod of the arrangement 97; the headplate 95 carries a cutter knife or blade 96 which in the illustrated embodiment is circular. When the arrangement 97 is activated, the head plate 95 is advanced horizontally. Preliminary thereto, however, the arrangement 102 is activated so that the entire cutting device 91 moves towards the left in FIG. 5 until a presser member 92 abuts against the winding mandrel 58 located at the operating station B and presses the tape 40 firmly against the adhesivecoated rod 89. Under the influence of the activation of the device 97 the cutter blade 96 now passes along underneath the presser member 92 and cuts through the tape 40. Thereupon the device 91 moves to its starting position which is illustrated in FIG. 5.

It should be emphasized that suitable and well known devices are used for fully automatically controlling the various operations of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3-7. Thus, end switches, delay switches and the like are provided where necessary and it is not thought that these need be shown because their employment will be evident to those skilled in the art. For explanatory purposes there is, however, shown a part of the controls for the cutting device 91. Thus, an end switch 121 is provided on the frame 103 and contacts a contact plate 122 which is secured to the movable portion of the cutting device 91 as soon as the presser member 92 abuts against the winding mandrel 58 located at the operating station B. The end switch 121 serves to activate the arrangement 97, thereby causing the blade 96 to advance along the winding mandrel 58 at the station B. At the end of this advancing movement of the blade 96 a member 123 mounted at one of the guide rods 93 abuts against an end switch 124 which is mounted on one of the guides 99. This results in initiation of the return movement of the cutting device 91 to its starting position shown in FIG. 5, as well as initiating the actual winding operation by energizing the arrangements 68 and 83.

It is emphasized that until termination or completion of the cutting of the tape by the cutting device 91, the winding mandrel located at the operating station B is arrested against rotation by the pin 76 with the adhesive-coated rod 89 being located in the position shown in FIG. 3 and with the tape 40 being pressed against the rod 89. Only when the cutting action is completed will the rod 82 effect shifting of the pin 76 out of the bore 80 and the friction wheels 74 and 66 engage so that the winding operation can begin.

It also bears reiterating that the features of FIGS. 1 and 2 with respect to the tape guide channel 30, the loop control and the like, are incorporated in the apparatus according to FIGS. 3-7. In so far as they are not specifically illustrated in FIGS. 3-7 it is to be understood that they are in fact incorporated but have been omitted for the sake of clarity. The only difference is that the friction brake is somewhat modified in FIGS. 3-7 in that the member 37 is mounted in frame portions 31 for vertical shifting movement with weight 391 of requisite size bearing on the upper end of the member 37.

It goes without saying that instead of the three operating stations A, B and C there could be additional operating stations which might, for instance, be so arranged as to permit the simultaneous preparation of two, three or more winding mandrels, the simultaneous winding of a corresponding number of coils and the simultaneous removal of a corresponding number of completed coils. This, it will be observed, is suggested by the provision of a plurality of tapes 40 in FIGS. 5 and 6, it being understood that with each such tape 40 there will be associated one of the rotary plates 52 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The apparatus in FIG. 3-6 also comprises arrangements 104 protective foil securing the outermost convolutions of the finished coils 120 to prevent them from unwinding. As evident for instance from FIGS. 3 and 4, a traverse 105 is connected to the frame 79 and carries two support members 106 in which a shaft 107 is journaled. Located directly over the tape guide channels 30 of each tape supply there are mounted on the shaft 103 for rotation three rolls 108 of double-faced adhesive tape 110. One face or side of the adhesive tape of each roll 108 is provided with a protective foil 115. Of course, it is possible to provide both faces with such a foil. The adhesive tape 110 is withdrawn downwardly from the respectively associated roll 108 ahead of the traverse 105. Angle members 109 connect arms 111 to the traverse 105, and each of the arms 111 carries at its free end a cylinder and piston arrangement 112. Secured to the piston rods of these arrangements 112 are grippers 113 which engage the protective foil 115 of the respective adhesive tape 110, the foil 115 being guided about reversing rollers 114, or a suitable edge or the like, and

being deflected thereby through These grippers 113' draw the protective foil 115 upwardly when the arrangements 1 12 are energized. The foil 115 is thus withdrawn from the adhesive tape 1 10 and the latter advances with its free end in the respectively associated tape guide channel 30 until it comes into contact with the upper major surface of the tape 40 passing therethrough, and adheres to this upper major surface. As this occurs, a piston and cylinder arrangement 116 con nected to an angle member 117 is energized, and a cutter blade 118 which is horizontally shiftable by being connected to the piston rod of the arrangement 116 severs the adhesive tape so that a portion 119 thereof whose leading end already adheres to the upper major surface of the tape 40, continues to advance with the tape 40 through the tape guide channel 30.

The just-described arrangements are suitable for providing portions 119 of adhesive tape between the initial convolutions of tape 40 and the terminal convolutions of tape 40 on a coil, and because the adhesive tape 119 is double faced, it will prevent unwinding of the completed coil 120.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 3-7 will be evident from what has been set forth above. Briefly summarized, the individual tapes 40 are advanced from a suitable source of supply (compare, for instance, FIGS. 1 and 2) and enter into the taper guide channels 30 wherein they are guided and braked by the friction brakes 37, 38. When a winding mandrel 58 is located at the operating station A, wherein the members 59 of the mandrel still abut against the outer surface of the associated tubular member 60 but not so tightly as to make securing of the rod 89 to a leading edge portion of one of the members 59 impossible, one of these members 89 is pushed onto a leading edge portion of one of the members 59 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, after having been supplied by the magazine 90. As the respective rotary plate 52 advances in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 3 and 4, the thus-prepared winding mandrel 58 advances to the operating station B whereas simultaneously a completed tape coil 120 is advanced from the operating station E to the operating station C. The tape extending from the tape supply to the completed coil 3120 has not yet been severed and therefore now moves into engagement with the adhesive coated outer surface of the member @9 provided on the winding mandrel 58 which has just moved to the operating station B. This is shown in H6. 3. The presser member 92 presses the tape still more firmly for adhesion against the member $9 and the cutter blade 96 serves to sever the tape intermediate the member 39 and the completed coil 120 which is located at the operating station C. At this time the associated arrangement Mi l serves to apply a short length of double-faced adhesive tape 119 onto the upper major surface of the tape 40. Now the piston and cylinder arrangements 68 and 83 are energized so that the rod 82 moves the pin 76 radially outwardly in the winding mandrel located at the operating station B, and simultaneously the friction wheels 74 and 76 come into motion-transmitting engagement with one another. Now a coil 120 is wound at the operating station E. The inner or initial convolutions of the tape 419 are adhered together by the initially introduced length 1119 of double faced adhesive tape. Shortly before the winding of the coil 120 at the operating station B is completed, the device 1104 dispenses an additional short length 119 of double faced adhesive tape in the manner discussed earlier, which secures the terminal convolutions of tape 4-0 together, thereby preventing the completed coil 120 from unwinding. Now the rotary plate 52 advances a further step, moving the completed coil 120 from the operating station B to the operation station C. The pin 84 moves the cam rod 64 towards the left (compare FIG. 7) in the winding mandrel which has now reached the operating station C, thereby permitting the contact members 59 to move radially inwardly towards the associated tubular member 60, and making it possible to withdraw the reel or bobbin carrying the completed coil 121). The rod 89 can be withdrawn then or later.

Of course, while it has been pointed out that several of the rotary plates 52 can be provided, each for winding of a single coil 120 at a time, it will be seen that the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-7 is even less complicated in that three coils 120 can be simultaneously secured on and wound on a singlewinding mandrel 58. In other words, three reels or bobbins are secured on the mandrel 58 which is respectively located at the operating station B, and accordingly three of the coils 120 are simultaneously wound at the operating station B, and are thereupon transferred to the operating station C where they are removed. In this embodiment the three coilsand of course there can be fewer or more coils-are connected by the member 89 and will become disconnected when the same is removed.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a tape-winding apparatus, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Iclaim:

l. A tape-winding apparatus, comprising tape supply means supplying tape which is to be wound in form of a coil; tapewinding means spaced from said tape supply means and operative for receiving from the latter tape which advances in a predetermined path, and for winding such tape to form a coil thereof; tape guide means upstream of said tape-winding means and comprising wall means defining an elongated guide channel of upwardly tapering substantially trapezoidal cross section, surrounding a portion of said predetermined path and confining said tape against movement laterally of said path; and friction-brake means comprising an engaging portion extending into said guide channel and slidably frictionally engaging a major surface of said tape as the same advances through said guide channel so as to exert a frictional braking action on said tape.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said winding means comprising an elongated rotary winding mandrel extending transversely of said path in lateral direction thereof.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim ll, wherein said guide channel is of substantially U-shaped cross section.

l. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said wall means including a pair of elongated transversely spaced and at least substantially parallel wall elements; and said tape guide means further comprising support means having a surface on which said wall elements are supported, and over which said tape slides and mounting means mounting at least one of said wall elements on said support means for movement towards and away from the other wall element at the will of an operator, for thereby varying the width of said guide channel in dependence upon the width of said tape.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim ll, said wall means comprising wall elements having inwardly directed free surfaces laterally bounding said guide channel, and further comprising a support on which said wall elements are mounted and having a support surface facing the interior of said guide channel and constituting the bottom surface thereof; and friction'reducing coating means provided on at least some ofsaid surfaces.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said coating means is composed of polytetralluorethylene,

7. An apparatus as defined in claim ll, said friction-brake means comprising varying means operative for varying the contact pressure with which said engaging portion contacts said major surface of said tape.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, said engaging portion having an engaging surface, and comprising a layer of felt on said engaging surface.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim. 7, said engaging portion having an engaging surface, and comprising a layer of polytetrafluorethylene on said engaging surface.

it). An apparatus as defined in claim 7, said varying means comprising an adjustable weight.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim ll, said path comprising a loop-shaped path portion upstream of said tape guide means so that said tape forms a free-hanging loop while traversing said loop-shaped path portion.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim ll; and further comprising loop control means operatively associated with said tape for controlling the size of said loop so as to maintain the latter within predetermined size limits.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12; further comprising drive means and braking means associated with said tape supply means for respectively advancing tape from the same in said path, and retarding the advancement of said tape, said loop control means being associated with said drive means and said braking means for actuating said drive means in response to said loop decreasing below a predetermined minimum size, and for actuating said braking means in response to said loop increasing beyond a predetermined maximum size.

M. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said tape-winding means including a rotary support, three-winding mandrels on said rotary support at circumferentially spaced locations thereof, rotating means for rotating said rotary support so as to advance said winding mandrels serially to three successive operating stations, first operating means at a first one of said operating stations for providing each of said mandrels with affixing means for affixing a leading end of said tape thereto, second operating means at a second one of said operating stations for affixing a leading end of said tape to the respective mandrel and for winding a coil of tape onto the latter, and third operating means at a third one of said operating stations for removing the completed coils of tape from the respective mandrels.

M. An apparatus as defined in claim l4, each of said winding mandrels comprising an elongated tubular member, a plurality of elongated strip shaped transversely curved contact members surrounding said tubular members circumferentially spaced about the same with radial clearance therefrom. spreading means operative for spreading said contact members radially outwardly away from said tubular member so as to frictionally engage a reel surrounding the respective winding mandrel and onto which tape is to be wound, activating means operative for activating said spreading means in response to movement of the respective mandrel to said second operating station, and deactivating means operative for deactivating said spreading means in response to movement of the respective mandrel to said third operating station.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, said tubular member being provided with a plurality of radial bores, and said spreading means comprising spreading pins each located in one of said bores and slidable between an inoperative position in which it is withdrawn into the associated bore, and an operative position in which it projects radially outwardly from the associated bore into abutment with one of said contact members for effecting radially outward spreading of the latter.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, said spreading means further comprising a cam rod received in each of said tubular members for sliding movement in opposite directions, said cam rod having cam surfaces engaging the respective spreading pins and urging the same to the operative positions thereof in response to sliding movement of said cam rod in one of said opposite directions.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, said activating means effecting sliding of said cam rod in said one opposite direction, and said deactivating means effecting sliding of said cam rod in the other of said opposite directions.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, said contact members having longitudinally extending free edge portions; and wherein said affixing means comprises elongated channelshaped members each having an outer surface provided with an adhesive, and said first operating means comprises an arrangement for pushing one of said channel-shaped members onto the free edge portion of at least one of said contact members.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, said mandrels being rotatably mounted in said rotary support and each being provided with a friction wheel affixed thereto; and drive means having a rotary output shaft and a friction drive wheel provided on said output shaft, said drive means being arranged for frictional motion-transmitting engagement of said friction drive wheel with the drive wheel of the respective mandrels in response to movement of said mandrels to said second operating station.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 14; and further comprising arresting means associated with each of said mandrels for arresting the same against rotation; and release means operative for releasing said arresting means so as to enable rotation of the respective mandrels in response to movement thereof to said second operating station.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21; and further comprising counter means associated with the respective mandrels and said arresting means and operative for counting the number of revolutions of said mandrels in response to release of said arresting means by said release means.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 14; and further comprising severing means for severing said tape subsequent to affixing ofthe leading end thereof to the respective winding mandrel.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, said severing means comprising a contact rod and a cutter blade both movable toward and into engagement with the respective mandrel located at said second operating station, said contact rod extending in axial parallelism with said respective mandrel, and moving means moving said cutter blade axially along said contact rod and mandrel for severing said tape.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 14; and further comprising introducing means for introducing a double-faced adhesive tape into said tape guide channel downstream of said friction-brake means and into adhesive contact with said mzg'or surface of said tape. i

6. An apparatus as defined 11'] claim 15, said introducing means comprising a roll of double-faced adhesive tape, an arrangement for withdrawing adhesive tape from said roll and introducing the withdrawn adhesive tape into said tape guide channel, and a cutting arrangement for cutting said adhesive tape upstream of the location of contact of said adhesive tape with said major surface of said tape.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, said adhesive tape comprising a protective foil overlying one face thereof, and said introducing means comprising peeling means operative for peeling said protective foil off said one face and for deflecting the peeled-off foil through an angle of up to substantially with reference to the advancing adhesive tape upstream of said guide channel.

28. A tape-winding apparatus, comprising tape supply means supplying tape which is to be wound in form of a coil; tape-winding means spaced from said tape supply means and operative for receiving from the latter tape which advances in a predetermined path, and for winding such tape to form a coil thereof; tape guide means upstream of said tape-winding means and comprising support means, and wall means on said support means and defining an elongated guide channel surrounding a portion of said predetermined path for confining said tape against movement laterally of said path; an elongated rotary winding mandrel extending transversely of said path in lateral direction thereof; adjusting means associated with said support means for adjusting the position of the same in space relative to said winding mandrel in three mutually normal directions; and friction-brake means comprising an engaging portion extending into said guide channel and slidably frictionally engaging a major surface of said tape as the same advances through said guide channel so as to exert a frictional braking action on said tape. 

1. A tape-winding apparatus, comprising tape supply means supplying tape which is to be wound in form of a coil; tapewinding means spaced from said tape supply means and operative for receiving from the latter tape which advances in a predetermined path, and for winding such tape to form a coil thereof; tape guide means upstream of said tape-winding means and comprising wall means defining an elongated guide channel of upwardly tapering substantially trapezoidal cross section, surrounding a portion of said predetermined path and confining said tape against movement laterally of said path; and frictionbrake means comprising an engaging portion extending into said guide channel and slidably frictionally engaging a major surface of said tape as the same advances through said guide channel so as to exert a frictional braking action on said tape.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said winding means comprising an elongated rotary winding mandrel extending transversely of said path in lateral direction thereof.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide channel is of substantially U-shaped cross section.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said wall means including a pair of elongated transversely spaced and at least substantially parallel wall elements; and said tape guide means further comprising support means having a surface on which said wall elements are supported, and over which said tape slides and mounting means mounting at least one of said wall elements on said support means for movement towards and away from the other wall element at the will of an operator, for thereby varying the width of said guide channel in dependence upon the width of said tape.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said wall means comprising wall elements having inwardly directed free surfaces laterally bounding said guide channel, and further comprising a support on which said wall elements are mounted and having a support surface facing the interior of said guide channel and constituting the bottom surface thereof; and friction-reducing coating means provided on at least some of said surfaces.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said coating means is composed of polytetrafluorethylene.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said friction-brake means comprising varying means operative for varying the contact pressure with which said engaging portion contacts said major surface of said tape.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, said engaging portion having an engaging surface, and comprising a layer of felt on said engaging surface.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, said engaging portion having an engaging surface, and comprising a layer of polytetrafluorethylene on said engaging surface.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, said varying means comprising an adjustable weight.
 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said path comprising a loop-shaped path portion upstream of said tape guide means so that said tape forms a free-hanging loop while traversing said loop-shaped path portion.
 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11; and further comprising loop control means operatively associated with said tape for controlling the size of said loop so as to maintain the latter within predetermined size limits.
 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12; further comprising drive means and braking means associated with said tape supply means for respectively advancing tape from the same in said path, and retarding the advancement of said tape, said loop control means being associated with said drive means and said braking means for actuating said drive means in response to said loop decreasing below a predetermined minimum size, and for actuating said braking means in response to said loop increasing beyond a predetermined maximum size.
 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said tape-winding means including a rotary support, three-winding mandrels on said rotary support at circumferentially spaced locations thereof, rotating means for rotating said rotary support so as to advance said winding mandrels serially to three successive operating stations, first operating means at a first one of said operating stations for providing each of said mandrels with affixing means for affixing a leading end of said tape thereto, second operating means at a second one of said operating stations for affixing a leading end of said tape to the respective mandrel and for winding a coil of tape onto the latter, and third operating means at a third one of said operating stations for removing the completed coils of tape from the respective mandrels.
 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, each of said winding mandrels comprising an elongated tubular member, a plurality of elongated strip-shaped transversely curved contact members surrounding said tubular members circumferentially spaced about the same with radial clearance therefrom, spreading means operative for spreading said contact Members radially outwardly away from said tubular member so as to frictionally engage a reel surrounding the respective winding mandrel and onto which tape is to be wound, activating means operative for activating said spreading means in response to movement of the respective mandrel to said second operating station, and deactivating means operative for deactivating said spreading means in response to movement of the respective mandrel to said third operating station.
 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, said tubular member being provided with a plurality of radial bores, and said spreading means comprising spreading pins each located in one of said bores and slidable between an inoperative position in which it is withdrawn into the associated bore, and an operative position in which it projects radially outwardly from the associated bore into abutment with one of said contact members for effecting radially outward spreading of the latter.
 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, said spreading means further comprising a cam rod received in each of said tubular members for sliding movement in opposite directions, said cam rod having cam surfaces engaging the respective spreading pins and urging the same to the operative positions thereof in response to sliding movement of said cam rod in one of said opposite directions.
 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, said activating means effecting sliding of said cam rod in said one opposite direction, and said deactivating means effecting sliding of said cam rod in the other of said opposite directions.
 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, said contact members having longitudinally extending free edge portions; and wherein said affixing means comprises elongated channel-shaped members each having an outer surface provided with an adhesive, and said first operating means comprises an arrangement for pushing one of said channel-shaped members onto the free edge portion of at least one of said contact members.
 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, said mandrels being rotatably mounted in said rotary support and each being provided with a friction wheel affixed thereto; and drive means having a rotary output shaft and a friction drive wheel provided on said output shaft, said drive means being arranged for frictional motion-transmitting engagement of said friction drive wheel with the drive wheel of the respective mandrels in response to movement of said mandrels to said second operating station.
 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 14; and further comprising arresting means associated with each of said mandrels for arresting the same against rotation; and release means operative for releasing said arresting means so as to enable rotation of the respective mandrels in response to movement thereof to said second operating station.
 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21; and further comprising counter means associated with the respective mandrels and said arresting means and operative for counting the number of revolutions of said mandrels in response to release of said arresting means by said release means.
 23. An apparatus as defined in claim 14; and further comprising severing means for severing said tape subsequent to affixing of the leading end thereof to the respective winding mandrel.
 24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, said severing means comprising a contact rod and a cutter blade both movable toward and into engagement with the respective mandrel located at said second operating station, said contact rod extending in axial parallelism with said respective mandrel, and moving means moving said cutter blade axially along said contact rod and mandrel for severing said tape.
 25. An apparatus as defined in claim 14; and further comprising introducing means for introducing a double-faced adhesive tape into said tape guide channel downstream of said friction-brake means and into adhesive contact with said major surface of said tape.
 26. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, said introducing means comprising a roll of double-faced adhesive tape, an arrangement for withdrawing adhesive tape from said roll and introducing the withdrawn adhesive tape into said tape guide channel, and a cutting arrangement for cutting said adhesive tape upstream of the location of contact of said adhesive tape with said major surface of said tape.
 27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, said adhesive tape comprising a protective foil overlying one face thereof, and said introducing means comprising peeling means operative for peeling said protective foil off said one face and for deflecting the peeled-off foil through an angle of up to substantially 180* with reference to the advancing adhesive tape upstream of said guide channel.
 28. A tape-winding apparatus, comprising tape supply means supplying tape which is to be wound in form of a coil; tape-winding means spaced from said tape supply means and operative for receiving from the latter tape which advances in a predetermined path, and for winding such tape to form a coil thereof; tape guide means upstream of said tape-winding means and comprising support means, and wall means on said support means and defining an elongated guide channel surrounding a portion of said predetermined path for confining said tape against movement laterally of said path; an elongated rotary winding mandrel extending transversely of said path in lateral direction thereof; adjusting means associated with said support means for adjusting the position of the same in space relative to said winding mandrel in three mutually normal directions; and friction-brake means comprising an engaging portion extending into said guide channel and slidably frictionally engaging a major surface of said tape as the same advances through said guide channel so as to exert a frictional braking action on said tape. 